According to Lettera, there have been nine incidents of trucks getting stuck in the past six months alone -- the most recent one taking place Tuesday. Another incident occurred around 3 a.m. one morning in July when a truck pummeled a homeowner's brick wall.

The result were damages costing thousands of dollars, says Lettera.

"This is getting worse," he said. "Not better."

There are already traffic signs reading "NO THRU TRAFFIC" and "NO THRU TRUCK TRAFFIC" posted at Richmond Road and the intersection of Clove Road, Milford Drive and Emerson Drive, but drivers of tractor trailers and tour buses alike either don't see them or have no problem driving right by them.

Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), who represents the district, acknowledges the possibility that GPS directions are leading unknowing drivers through Emerson Hill. He is looking to meet with community residents and the city's Department of Transportation to discuss possible solutions, such as additional signage or flashing signs, which may draw more attention to the warnings the signs advise.

With little verifiable evidence that GPS units are to blame, the theory is difficult to substantiate. But if it were true, the dilemma at hand may be just as difficult to quell: Signs can only do so much and large trucks technically are allowed on Emerson Hill.

While Douglas Road, the main thoroughfare on the hill, is not a designated truck route, trucks are permitted in limited instances to use streets when they are en route to making a delivery nearby, said a DOT spokesperson.

Acknowledging Matteo's concern on behalf of residents, the DOT is surveying the issue to see what solutions are lawful.

Because the neighborhood is not private, there are limitations on forbidding large trucks. After all, some do have to travel to Emerson Hill to make deliveries to residents.

"The agency will take a look at the location and surrounding area to see if sign adjustments can help address this concern," according to the spokesperson.

For residents, the issue is not just temporary headaches due to occasional road closures. For some, it is a migraine. In the case that there is damage, Lettera says what follows is a nightmare: months of dealing with distant insurance companies that are hesitant to cooperate and drivers who plead ignorance.